Explosive projectile



April 18, 1944 B. A. HoPPER ExPLosIvE PROJECTILE Filed March 15, 1941Mn/4 m/ 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Patented Apr. 18, 1944 t UNITED STATES *rE-.NT @OFFICE 2,346,843* jnxrLosIvE PROJECTILE Bert v'Alford'lloppen Flint, Mich. ApplicationMarch 15, 1941, Serial No. 383,623

(c1. 1oz-5e) This invention relates generally to the class of ammunitionand explosive devices and pertains more particularly to improvements inprojectiles. v

The primary object of the present invention is `to provide an improvedprojectile of the type designed to explode on impact, wherein a novelmeans is provided for effecting the explosion of the charge carriedthereby in the event that the shell strikes its objective a glancingblow rather than making a direct hit thereon.

w Another object of the invention is to provide an. improved explosivecharge-carrying projectile in which the nose thereof is constructed tohave shiftable portions which are normally held in one position andwhich are shifted rearwardly when .the projectile strikes an object toeffect the ring of a percussion cap for setting off the charge, suchshiftable portions of the nose of the projectile being arranged so thatthe percussion cap will be fired if the projectile strikes an objecthead on or only strikes the object with a glancing blow.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in an explosivecharge carrying projectile, a shiftable ring tip or nose withnovel'means for maintaining such shiftable tip or nose portion ina setor advanced position from which it is driven, for the purpose ofexploding the charge, when the projectile strikes an object.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it being understood, however, thatv the invention is not to beconsidered as limited by the specific illustration or description butthat such illustration and description constitutes a preferredembodimentof the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View in longitudinal section of a projectile constructed inaccordance with the present invention, showing the shiftable tip or noseportions in normal or set position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. j A

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the'line Fig. 4 is a view inelevation of one of the shift- -able portions of the nose of theprojectile.

.in section ofthe nose end ofthe projectile, show- .ingv the manner .inwhich the Yshiftable portions are maintained in position while thejacket is being applied.

Referring now 4more particularly to the drawing, the numeral Idesignates the body portion of the projectile :in which is formed anexplosive charge receiving chamber 2, containing a charge of powder orother suitable explosive 3. The nose end of the projectile is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 4 and this includes the integral frame-likeextension 5 of the upper or forward end of the body I.' This frame-likeextension 5 has the longitudinally extending opening 6 therein in thefloor 6 of which is formed an axial bore I in which is'seta percussioncap 8.1 The bore or passagel I extends through the top end wall 9 of thechamber 2 and into this chamber, asshown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1, the diameter of the projectile is reduced slightlythroughout approximatelyv half. the length thereof startingsubstantially midway of the ends of the body portion I and continuing tothe nose or around the tip portion, this reduction being indicated atI0, whereby there is formed a shoulder I I around the central part ofthe body,

The frame-like extension 5 ofthe forward end of the body has twoopposite flat parallel faces .l2 which extend slightly beyond the oor 6toward the rear end of thev projectile forming the radial shoulders I3.

The numerals Ill and I5 designate shiftable tip or nose portions, eachof which is set against a fiat face I2 of the frame-like forward endportion 5 of the projectile. 4The shiftable portion I4 has upon itslongitudinal center upon the inner or nat side thereof, the lug I6 whichterminates at its forward and rear ends short of the adjacent `ends ofthe shiftable element I4 of which it forms a part andA which is of anoverall length slightly less than that of the opening E in which itposi. tions. Upon the side of this lug I6 opposite from vthe shiftableportion or element I4, there is a tongue I'I, the forward end of whichlies at approximately the transverse center of the lug while the rearend extends beyond the rear end of the lug and terminates in a planesubstantially paralleling the rear edge or rear face of the portion I 4.The distance between the rear face of the lug I6 and the plane of therear face of the portion I4 is substantially equal to the distancebetween the floor `6' and the shoulder I3 with which the rear face ofthe shiftable portion Ill is opposed.' As previously stated, the lug I6is de- 'signed-.to 'position in the opening 6 and when in this position,the finger I'I lies upon the opposite side of the frame from the portionI4 and engages the rear end of the face I2 Opposite from the portion I4and thus acts to lock the shiftable portion I4 in position.

The shiftable element or portion I5 which engages against that face I2opposite from the face engaged by the shiftable portion I4, is shown inelevation in Fig. 4, and is provided with the lengthwise extending notchor recess I8 which opens through its rear edge, to receive the fingerI'I. In other words, the shiftable portion I5 straddles and rests uponthe nger Il and cooperates with the shiftable portion I4 to complete thecircular cross-sectional form or design of the forward end of theprojectile. It will, of course, be understood that while the faces ofthe portions I4 and I5 which are positioned against the faces I2 of theframe 5 are iiat, the opposite or lateral faces of the portions I4 andI5 are circular in form and coact with the circular form of the narrowsides of the frame 5 to complete the complete circle of the projectile.

Each of the faces I2 of the framedike forward portion of the projectilehas a laterally extending lip I9 against which the forward end of .theadjacent shiftable portion engages when such shiftable portion is in itsnormal forwardlyextended position.

The forward end of the frame portion 5 is cut square across on the line2li and is provided with the axial passage 2I which leads into theforward end of the opening 8. In the completed projectile, this forwardaxial passage 2| has tted therein a tip pin 22 which carries the pointedtip 23 whi-ch rests against the at ,forward end surface 2G and completesthe bullet-like nose formation of the projectile.

In the forward end of the lug It there is .an axial threaded passage 24in which is engaged an assembling pin 25, shown in Fig. 6. This pin isemployed only in the assembling of the parts of the projectile and has ahead 21 which bears against the surface 2B in the Amanner hereinafterstated.

At the inner end or rear end of the lug I6 there is fixed a firing pin28 which extends axially of the projectile beyond the'inner end or innerface of the lug so that when the lug is forcibly driven rearwardly, thispin will strike the percussion cap 8 to set oif or fire the charge 3.

Inthe completed projectile there is the jacket 29 which is of athickness corresponding with the depth ofthe reduced portion Ill of thepro- ,jectile body and this jacket is slipped on from the forward end ofthe projectile until its inner end comes to rest against the shoulderII, and when in this position, the forward or outer end of the jacketwill extend slightly over the curved or rounded nose of the projectile,the jacket be'- ing `tapered off to conform to the nose curvature. Thisjacket ,is sweated onto the body of the projectile so asto bepermanently and tightly joined thereto and it functions to maintain theshift-able firing elements I4 in ltheir forward positions. Theseelements when in their forward positions, will have their rearendsspaced `from the shoutders I3, as shown in Fig. l, while their forwardends will be Aabutted against the adjacent lips I9.

In assembling the parts of the projectile, the lug and finger It and `IIrespectively of theshiftable firing element vor portion I4 are extendedthrough the-opening Ii., so as to bring the finner face 0f the portion-I.4 .against one p f ,the faces I2 of the frame 5. The other shiftableportion I5 is then placed in position over the finger I'I. Theassembling screw 26 is then extended through the passage 2| and threadedinto the bore 24 and is drawn up tight so as to pull the two portions I4and I5 forwardly and tightly against the lips I9. The jacket 29 is thenplaced over the forward end of the projectile and moved into its finalposition, it being sweated on or otherwise suitably constricted ortightened so that it will firmly grip the portions I4 and I5 andmaintain them against accidental longitudinal movement. The assemblingscrew may then be removed and the impact tip or point 23 placed inposition with its pin-like inner portion firmly fixed in the passage oropening 2 I. As previously stated, the ring pin 28 is held in spacedrelation with the percussion cap until the projectile strikes nose onagainst an object or strikes an object with a glancing blow so as to hiteither of theshiftable portions and cause them to be driven back withsufficient force to cause the ring pin 2,8 to discharge thev ring cap.This will, of course, set off the main charge 3 and cause the explosionof the shell.

The rear end of the powder chamber 2 is closed `by the threaded plug 29or other suitable mea-ns.

It will, of course, be readily understood that the impact pin 22 willhave yielding rearward movement in the event that it comes into forciblecontact with an lobject so that it will drive the lug I6 rearwardly andre the percussion cap 8 so as to set off the charge 3 in the chamber `ofthe projectile.

It will also be understood that the extent of movement of the parts I4and I5 for the firing of the percussion cap 8, has been greatlyexaggerated for the purpose of more clearly setting forth structuraldetails but that in the projectile as constructed for use, the limit ofmovement of the movable elements I4 and I5 and of the firing pin 2,8will be relatively slight.

What is claimed is: l l. An explosive charge carrying projectile,comprising a body formedto provide an explosive .charge containingchamber and having a tapered substantially solid nose portion, saidtapered nose portion including two oppositely positioned elementscoupled together across ther width of the nose for longitudinal shiftingand lhaving a length greater than the ylength of the tapered portion anda `transverse arcuate dimension of more than one-quarter thecircumference of the nose, said elements being designed to maintain `anormal forward position, the forward Vends of the elements when in saidnor-mal position being behind the tip of the projectile' nose, means forreleasably holding said elements in said normal position, the elementsbeing designed to be forcibly shifted rearwardly upon impact of the nosewith anobject, and means for setting off the charge within said chamberby and upon the rearward shifting of said elements.

v2. An explosive charge carrying projectile, comprising a body having anexplosive charge containing .chamber 4and a nose portion,said noseportion comprising a `central longitudinally extending xed part of thebody `having an opening ktransversely therethrough and two oppositelydisposed parts positioned ,against the central part, one o f :saidopposite -parts having-a portion extending ltransve,rsely through thecentral part and `{10111)1661 Wllil :the :other one .of the oppositeparts, the said two opposite parts having a limited longitudinalmovement with respect to the central part and being normally positionedat the limit of their forward movement, said opposite parts and thefixed part being exteriorly curved to cooperate in forming the nose,means for yieldingly holding said opposite parts in the said normalposition therefor, a firing cap for the charge in said chamber, and afiring pin coupled with said opposite parts and arranged to be driveninto forcible contact with the firing cap upon movement of the saidopposite parts rearwardly from their normal position.

3. An explosive charge carrying projectile, comprising a body having anexplosive charge containing chamber and having a nose portion, said noseportion comprising a central longitudinally extending part and twooppositely disposed shiftable parts having contact with opposite facesof the said central part, said central part having a longitudinallyextending opening formed transversely therethrough, one of saidshiftable parts having a lug disposed in said opening and a tonguearranged upon the opposite side of the central part from the said onepart, the other one of said parts being coupled with said tongue, saidshiftable parts having a normal forward position with respect to thecentral part, a firing cap for said explosive containing chamber, afiring pin carried by said lug and spaced from the cap when the saidshiftable parts are in their normal forward position, and a jacketencircling the body and maintaining said shiftable parts yieldingly intheir normal forward position. said shiftable parts having rounded outerend portions forming a part of the nose of the projectile.

4. An explosive charge carrying projectile, comprising a body having anexplosive charge containing chamber and having a nose portion, said noseportion comprising a central longitudinally extending part and twooppositely disposed shiftable parts having contact with opposite facesof the said central part, said central part having a longitudinallyextending opening formed transversely therethrough, one of saidshiftable parts having a lug disposed in said opening and a tonguearranged upon the opposite side of the central part from the said onepart,` the other one of said parts being coupled with said tongue, saidshiftable parts having a nornal forward position with respect to thecentral; part, a ring cap for said explosive containing chamber, afiring pin carried by said lug and. spaced from the cap when the saidshiftable parts are in their normal forward position, and a jacketencircling the body and maintaining said'shiftable parts yieldingly intheir normal forward position, said shiftable parts having rounded outerend portions forming a part of the ljnose of the projectile, and a -pinyieldngly maintained axially in the forward end of the nose` andengaging at its inner end with the fo-rward end of the lug, and a tipforming a portion of said last pin and constituting the point of thenose.

BERT ALFORD HOPPER.

